Coupling assembly

Abstract

A coupling assembly can couple a beam to a loop of a tie-down assembly coupled to an inner sidewall of a pickup bed. The beam defines a channel, and the loop defines an aperture. The coupling assembly includes a coupling plate including a first plate body, a second plate body coupled to the first plate body, a first protrusion extending from the first plate body, a second protrusion extending from the first protrusion, a fastener, and a knob. The first protrusion is configured to be disposed through the aperture of the loop, and the second protrusion is configured to be disposed in the channel of the beam. The fastener includes a head and a threaded shaft coupled to the head. The head is configured to be disposed in the channel, and the threaded shaft extends through the second plate body. The knob is coupled to the threaded shaft.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A coupling assembly for coupling a beam to a loop coupled to a pickup bed, the beam defining a channel, the loop defining an aperture, the coupling assembly comprising:
 a coupling plate including a first plate body, a second plate body coupled to the first plate body, a first protrusion extending from the first plate body, and a second protrusion extending from the first protrusion, wherein the first protrusion is configured to be disposed through the aperture of the loop, and the second protrusion is configured to be disposed in the channel of the beam; 
 a fastener including a head and a threaded shaft coupled to the head, wherein the head is configured to be disposed in the channel, and the threaded shaft extends through the second plate body; and 
 a knob coupled to the threaded shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling plate includes an elbow interconnecting the first and second plate bodies. 
     
     
       3. The coupling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate body, the second plate body, and the elbow collectively form a unitary structure. 
     
     
       4. The coupling assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling plate defines a slot extending through the second plate body, and the slot is configured to partially receive the threaded shaft. 
     
     
       5. The coupling assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first plate body is spaced apart from the second plate body along a first direction. 
     
     
       6. The coupling assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first protrusion extends from the first plate body along the first direction. 
     
     
       7. The coupling assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second protrusion extends from the first protrusion along the first direction. 
     
     
       8. The coupling assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second plate body is spaced apart from the first plate body along a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
       9. The coupling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is cylindrical, and the first protrusion is cylindrical. 
     
     
       10. The coupling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the knob defines a threaded hole configured to threadedly engage the threaded shaft. 
     
     
       11. A vehicle, comprising:
 a pickup bed including a first inner sidewall and a second inner sidewall opposite the first inner sidewall; 
 a beam disposed between the first and second inner sidewalls, wherein the beam defines a channel; 
 a loop operatively coupled to the first sidewall, wherein the loop defines an aperture; 
 a coupling plate interconnecting the loop and the beam, wherein the coupling plate includes a plate body, a first protrusion extending from the plate body, and a second protrusion extending from the first protrusion; and 
 wherein the first protrusion extends through the aperture, and the second protrusion is at least partially disposed in the channel. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising a knob and a fastener coupled to the knob, wherein the fastener includes a head disposed in the channel and a threaded shaft attached to the head, wherein the knob is coupled to the threaded shaft. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the knob defines a threaded hole configured to receive the threaded shaft. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the plate body is a first plate body, the coupling plate includes a second plate body, the coupling plate defines a slot extending through the second plate body, and the slot partially receives the threaded shaft. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the coupling plate further includes an elbow interconnecting the first and second plate bodies. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the first plate body is spaced apart from the second plate body along a first direction. 
     
     
       17. The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the first protrusion extends from the first plate body along the first direction. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the second protrusion extends from the first protrusion along the first direction. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the second plate body is spaced apart from the first plate body along a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
       20. The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the aperture is cylindrical, and the first protrusion is cylindrical.